Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
A t least it looked like the weather was going to cooperate. The past few days had gone by in a blur of preparations and last-minute arrangements for the in-person meeting with the possible new business owners today.
She didn’t have the luxury to think about the kiss with Cody or what it meant. He’d reached out a few times, but she hadn’t had much time to do more than send a quick text response. He stood near her on the dock. His navy Jonathon Island T-shirt highlighting his eyes. Her gaze drifted to him again. That shirt was working for his muscles too.
Stop it! Focus!
Mia tucked her hands into her jacket pockets. No reason to let anyone see them trembling.
Lord, help me today!
The ferry pulled up to the dock a few feet from where she stood with her dad, Dani, Cody, and Tara Chamberlain, a “welcome to Jonathon Island committee” of sorts. Mia had dropped off Finn and Maggie with her mom earlier, grateful that she didn’t have to keep track of them while also doing this part of her job. The stakes of impressing everyone were high enough without Maggie wandering off or Finn falling into the water.
Earlier, her dad had greeted her with an awkward hug. All these years later and she still didn’t know how to behave around him. Maybe Evie was right, and she needed to sit down and talk things through.
Too bad there wouldn’t be time for that anytime soon. But once her mortgage was paid off…maybe then she could figure out the rest of her life.
Cody included.
Focus, girl.
She and Dani had haggled about how many to invite to this meet and greet. They’d only wanted finalists from the interviews. She’d argued that inviting more guests than they needed to fill the spaces made the most sense. After some pushback, Dani had agreed. Already two had canceled, citing arrangements to bring their businesses elsewhere. The remaining thirteen meant they had an extra, which felt tight to Mia, but doable.
The ferry boat captain laid on his horn as the boat pulled into its slip. A few moments later, passengers began filing down the gangway. She recognized a few of them from the video chats they’d held over the past week. There was Mr. and Mrs. Olson, dressed in a fedora and a cloche hat respectively. Mr. Olson even sported a bow tie, and were those spats? With Mrs. Olson’s red wool jacket, they looked more like a couple who wanted to start an antique shop than a pizzeria. But she knew the next couple off the boat, the Millers, were the antiques dealers. She’d pegged them at around mid-fifties, both dressed casually in jeans and sweatshirts. A man in a kilt walked down next.
Huh. She’d seen this guy’s social media profile. He was another artist, and he’d been in a kilt in some of his photos. Who knew that it would be an everyday type of outfit?
Matt came next. The sight of someone she could rely on unknotted one of the ropes currently restricting her breathing.
One woman shoved her way forward before leaning over the guard rail and retching into the bay. Mia ran to her side to assist her. She recognized her as Ms. DeVoe, a woman who sold specialty clothing.
“I’m sorry.” The woman wiped her mouth with the tissue Mia tucked into her hand. “I’ve never traveled by boat before. Is it always that choppy? I thought I was on a roller coaster.”
“Ms. De Voe, right?” Ms. De Voe nodded, lips tight. Mia looked out over the water. Today it lay smooth and calm. The sun beamed down on them from its place in the noon sky. “I’m sorry it didn’t agree with you. Can I get you something to calm your stomach? We will be walking to the Tourist Bureau in a moment, and there will be refreshments there.”
Ms. De Voe waved her off. “I’ll just get some water when we arrive. Standing on solid ground is helping.” She moved a few paces off and bent at the waist, putting her hands on her knees.
Mia shrugged. Not much else she could do right now. One situation at a time. She greeted the rest of the guests as best she could before stepping onto a bench and clapping her hands three times like a tour guide.
“Welcome to Jonathon Island, everyone. I’m so glad you could make it.” She glanced around the group as they all quieted down. Cody caught her eye and gave her a thumbs up. A flush stole across her back. Biting her cheek to hold back her smile, she continued. “We’ll be starting our day off by taking a short walk to the Tourism Bureau, where we can get some refreshments and get to know one another better. We’ll also have a question and answer session. Then we’ll move on to a tour of town. Anyone interested in taking a look at some of the houses will have an opportunity to do that as well. Any questions?”
When there were none, Mia climbed off the bench and began walking toward the Tourism Bureau, the group falling in behind and around her.
She found herself walking next to an older, bald man dressed in jeans, cowboy boots, and a leather jacket. “Too bad we have to walk,” he said. “My Harley would love to eat up this road.”
“Mr. Somerton, right?” He nodded and she shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. You have a motorcycle?”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s my baby. I had her custom made then picked her up in Milwaukee myself.” He pulled out his phone. Was he seriously going to show her photos of his motorcycle? Yep. That’s exactly what he was doing. His lock screen was a picture of him astride a very large machine—Mia had no idea what to call the behemoth. Then he swiped open his photo app, and for the next four hundred and thirty-seven seconds, he showed her approximately four hundred and thirty-six pictures of a red, white, and blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Mia mmm’d and ahh’d through the lot. Hopefully, Mr. Somerton didn’t notice she was less than enthusiastic about them by the second hundred.
“You do remember the rule about motor vehicles, right?” She finally broke in.
He waved a hand as though swatting a gnat. “Merely a formality.”
“It’s not—” But he didn’t let her finish as he turned away to show Ms. DeVoe his photos.
“Isn’t she a beaut?” Mia heard him ask before they were lost in the group.
Finally, they reached the building housing Dani’s office, the Tourism Bureau, and a small museum highlighting local history. Mia led them into the museum, the biggest space in the building.
“Everyone, please help yourself to the snacks and drinks. We’ll start with the question and answer time in just a few minutes.” The room filled with noisy chatter as Mia pulled Dani toward the front of the room. “Everything going okay on your end?”
“I’m nervous, is that weird?” Dani clutched her hands together.
“Not weird at all.” Mia put her arm around Dani. “This whole thing was your idea. Of course you want it to succeed. Don’t worry, you’ll do great, cuz.” She squeezed Dani’s shoulder and gave her a smile. After a beat, Dani smiled back.
“Okay. We got this,” Dani said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Once again, Mia clapped her hands, calling for attention. “Huddle up, everyone. Feel free to bring your drinks and snacks to the chairs.”
The Jonathon Island Welcoming Committee moved behind a small podium amidst the general squeaking of chair legs against the tile floor as the group got situated.
Her dad stepped to the mic mounted on the podium. Despite their differences, Mia couldn’t help being impressed with the way her father commanded the room. “It has been a privilege to welcome each of you to our island. Thank you for taking the time to apply for our newly-minted program and for your interest in becoming year-round citizens. I know each of you will love living here as much as I do. I’ve loved raising a family here.” He cut his eyes to Mia, an unreadable expression in his gaze. “And I’m loving watching my grandkids grow up here too.” He moved back as Dani stepped to the mic.
“We’ve been in touch with each of you and answered many questions, but I’m sure there are many more out there. Especially now that you’ve gotten a chance to get a taste of the town. All of us are available to answer, so fire away.”
Mr. Somerton lumbered to his feet. “Is it true that I can’t bring my Harley to the island?”
“Yes, that’s true.” Dani gripped the sides of the podium, her knuckles whitening.
“What am I supposed to do with her, then?”
“Most people rent a space on the mainland for any vehicles they own. Except boats, of course.”
“Is there some sort of appeal process?”
“No. This has been a law for a hundred years.” Dani bit off her words like she was snipping a piece of string.
“I didn’t buy a fancy machine just to be separated from her for most of the year.” Mr. Somerton crossed his beefy arms. “The town council will be hearing from me. I bet I can sweet-talk them into letting me bring my girl.”
Her dad stepped back to the mic. “Mr. Somerton, I’m the mayor here. I can tell you right now that there will be no exception made for your Harley-Davidson. I’m sorry.”
“I mentioned it in all that paperwork. That gal there,” he nodded toward Mia, “she knew I had a Harley.”
A pain stabbed Mia’s gut. Had she told Mr. Somerton he could bring his motorcycle? She thought fast about their conversation. Nothing sprang to mind.
Her dad gave her a side-long look, and she returned it with a wide-eyed shake of her head. She hadn’t made any promises.
Besides, there had been other members of the council there. They would all have remembered something like that.
Her dad leaned an arm on the podium. “I don’t know what you think you were promised, Mr. Somerton, and I’m sorry you were under the wrong impression, but we won’t be able to make any exceptions.”
Mr. Somerton’s chair clanked in protest as he dropped back into it. “I’m out.” His voice rang clear over the gathering.
Mia winced. Hopefully his stormy look wasn’t contagious.
After a few more benign questions, the Q I promised Mia I would help her move something.”
“I think that’s probably a good idea anyway, just until you get a feel for things.”
Cody had spent an hour in Pastor Arnie’s study a few days ago talking over what had happened on the water last time with Liam. Arnie had agreed to go out in Cody’s speedboat with him as soon as he was ready. The day after his kiss with Mia, he called and said he was ready.
Ready for a lot of things, actually. If Mia needed time, he’d give it to her. But eventually, they would be discussing that kiss.
Discussing what it meant—sooner or later.
Taking a few deep breaths, he made his way to the boat, Pastor Arnie close behind.
The day had dawned bright and clear, but he knew rain was in the forecast for later. Early summer in Michigan meant lots of rain. Shielding his eyes, he looked to the horizon. Dark clouds were building but were still a long way off. The air was still and the lake calm.
He stepped into the boat and it rocked slightly. Pastor Arnie stepped in and Cody handed him a life vest.
“These are mandatory on my boats now,” he said.
“Understandable.” The other man slipped it on over his green polo shirt.
Cody turned the key in the ignition. The loud rumble of the engine succeeded in drowning out his thoughts for a moment.
I can do this. This is fine.
“Pull in the rope, please.” He pointed to the line tying them to the dock. Pastor Arnie did as he was asked, and Cody eased the boat into the open water.
“What’s that verse again?” His fingers tingled.
“Psalm 34:4,” Pastor Arnie said. “‘I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.’”
As they made their way around the island, Cody’s pulse spiked and his hands grew slick on the wheel.
“Okay, stop the boat and breathe with me.” Arnie put a hand on Cody’s shoulder. They floated for a few minutes, the boat rocking gently. “Nice and steady.”
Cody concentrated on the man’s soothing voice. Soon, his heart rate was back to normal and his sight had cleared.
“Thanks, Pastor.”
“My pleasure.” Arnie gestured to the bay. “Should we keep going?”
Cody started the boat again. After a few more moments of panic, Cody began to settle into the boat. When they’d been out an hour, he started having fun. He felt more like himself than he had in years.
“Let’s turn back,” he said. As they rounded the outcropping just before home, the engine sputtered and died. Cody bit back a curse. Why did bad things keep happening to him?
He opened the top of the outboard motor and poked around.
It was no use.
“What’s the diagnosis?” Pastor Arnie stood over his shoulder.
“I’ll have to take it back to the lab for an autopsy.” Cody shot the pastor a smile.
“I’m glad you’re able to joke about this. It shows real progress.” Arnie smiled back.
Cody checked the time. He was going to be late for meeting Mia if they didn’t hurry.
“Do you want the good news or the bad news?” He asked Arnie.
“What’s the good news?” Arnie moved back to his seat in the bow.
“I have paddles on board.” Cody went to the storage chest along the side of the boat and unsnapped its lid.
Arnie stood. “Okay, What’s the bad news?”
Cody handed him a paddle. “We have to use them.”
The two men stationed themselves on either side of the boat. They paddled hard. They made it about halfway back to their goal when a cold breeze whipped over them. The distant clouds weren’t quite so distant anymore. Now, they covered the sun cooling the air.
Soon, the water began to churn, waves tossing the speedboat as they paddled.
“Harder,” Cody said and both men doubled down on their efforts. Cody could see his dock achingly close.
He didn’t have time for fear as they maneuvered the boat to the shore. He needed to get it in, tied off, and covered before the rain hit. They’d just bumped the side of the dock when the skies opened overhead.
“Tie her off,” Cody called. “I’ll hold us.” He kept a grip on one of the dock cleats while Pastor Arnie tied off the line on the back of the boat. Then he tied the one on the front.
“Do you have a cover?” Rain streamed down Arnie’s face.
“In the shop.” Cody shed his life vest and stepped out of the boat. Both men hurried across the lawn to the shed. Inside, they dripped on the floor as Cody collected the boat cover. The pulsing of the pouring rain beat on the steel roof. He tossed Pastor Arnie his dad’s rain slicker and put his own on.
“Thanks for coming with me today.” He rested his hand on the doorknob, steeling himself for the onslaught of rain.
“My pleasure. I’ll help you with the cover and then dash home,” Pastor Arnie replied.
The two of them wrestled the canvas over the boat, securing it with the snaps made for that purpose.
Cody waved as Pastor Arnie took off toward home. A rumble of thunder ground through the sky.
Shoot. He was really late now.
Without stopping to change his clothes, Cody made his way downtown. Surely Mia would forgive him for being late when he told her about his progress.